Grace Notes
Last Sunday after Pentecost
November 24, 2024
Almighty and everlasting God, whose will it is to restore all things in thy well‑beloved Son, the King of kings and Lord of lords: Mercifully grant that the peoples of the earth, divided and enslaved by sin, may be freed and brought together under his most gracious rule; who liveth and reigneth with
thee and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.
THIS WEEK’S READINGS
Daniel 7:9-10, 13-14, Psalm 93, Revelation 1:4b-8, John 18:33-37
THIS WEEK'S WORSHIP SCHEDULE
Sunday
9 AM The Children’s Service
10 AM The Holy Eucharist and Sunday School (bulletin)
Wednesday — Thanksgiving Eve
7 PM The Holy Eucharist
SUNDAY SCHOOL will be held at 10 AM each Sunday for grade school age children (kindergarten to 5th grade). After their lesson and activity, the children will join the congregation for communion.
ABOUT THE SOLEMNITY OF CHRIST THE KING . . . The Solemnity of Christ the King was instituted in the Roman Church in 1925 by Pope Pius XI to counteract atheism and secularism. It celebrates not an event but a truth—that Christ reigns over all of creation. The feast affirms the messianic kingship of Christ, who redeemed humanity by the blood of the Cross, and anticipates Christ’s return to usher in the fullness of his kingdom.
While the Prayer Book calls this day the Last Sunday after Pentecost, the Anglican and Protestant groups that follow the Revised Common Lectionary observe today as the Feast of Christ the King, with its Proper (the collect and the readings) clearly intending the celebration of Christ’s reign.
OUR PRAYERS ARE ASKED FOR . . . . the sick and those in need, especially The Rev. James Warnke, priest, Michael Shumway, Catherine Gooch, Larry Toppin, Diane Tekirian, Howard Goldin, Chris Spilker, Lexi Manning, Gina DeMarsico, Stephanie Luciani, Christian Davis, Shawn Davis, Felix Wroten, Suzanne Morris, Lauren Rosenthal, Nancy Mohr, Roseanne Levine, Jenafer Medina, Charlotte Wilson, Rich Landi, John Whitlock, and Gaylord Hitchcock, priest.
For the those celebrating birthdays especially Peter E. Mueller (11/24) and those celebrating anniversaries especially Jay & Carol Martin (11/30).
For those who have died especially Douglas Hawley (11/18), Robert Vogler (11/24), Judith P. Hirstius (11/25), Dona Marie Stam (11/27), Earle Alcorn (11/27), and Andrea Roth (11/30).
PRAYER LIST REQUESTS . . . To add any names to the parish prayer list, please send an email to kmaccourt@gmail.com with the name of the person to be prayed for, your name and a brief description of the person’s health or other situation (note if long-term or chronic). Names are listed for four weeks and then rotate off, but they can be added again as needed. If you have questions, please speak with the wardens or Father Anthony.
THANKSGIVING DONATIONS FOR WESTWOOD CARES FOOD PANTRY . . . The Westwood Cares Food Pantry has reached out to local churches for food donations to help them assemble their annual Thanksgiving baskets for families in need. The pantry is in need of stuffing, gravy, canned yams and potatoes, instant potatoes and other canned vegetables. We will drop off donations on November 23. Please consider donating a few items to support this important effort.
DINNER AT DOMANI'S ON THANKSGIVING EVE . . . Larry Sunden has booked the private room at Domani’s restaurant in Hillsdale for a dinner following the Thanksgiving Eve service at Grace Church. All parishioners and friends of Grace are invited to join. Please contact Larry (larry@sunden.com or 201-960-1433) no later than Monday, November 25 to reserve a spot.
ADVENT DEVOTIONAL PRACTICE . . . This Advent season we will explore two different contemplative approaches to reading and praying the scriptures.
The first contemplative practice we will explore is Composition of Place. This is an Ignatian practice that emphasizes the use of one’s imagination and engaging the senses to place oneself into a scriptural passage. This practice follows a series of steps that help deepen one’s experience of scripture and draw closer to God in prayer. Click on the link for more information on this practice:
https://cruxnow.com/commentary/2023/07/in-composition-of-place-we-engage-in-conversation-with-the-living-god
Lectio Divina (divine reading) is a practice of four movements that guide the reader in a slow deliberate reading of scripture utilizing periods of silence, meditation, prayer, and group conversation. You can find more about this practice by clicking on this link:
https://www.contemplativeoutreach.org/lectio-divina-contemplation/
We will meet for two online sessions during this Advent Season:
Thursday, December 5 at 7 PM. Composition of Place
Thursday, December 19 at 7 PM. Lectio Divina
Please join us and take advantage of this opportunity to spend more time praying, studying scripture, and learning from one another during this Advent season.
November 27 (Wednesday) - Thanksgiving Eve
7 PM The Holy Eucharist
December 1 - Advent 1
9 AM The Children's Service
10 AM The Holy Eucharist and Sunday School
December 4 (Wednesday)
7 PM The Holy Eucharist
December 8 - Advent 2
10 AM The Holy Eucharist and Sunday School
December 11 (Wednesday)
9 AM The Holy Eucharist
December 15 - Advent 3
9 AM The Children's Service
10 AM The Holy Eucharist and Sunday School
December 18 (Wednesday)
9 AM The Holy Eucharist
December 22 - Advent 4
10 AM The Holy Eucharist and Sunday School
December 24 - Christmas Eve
5 PM The Holy Eucharist
December 29 - Christmas 1
10 AM The Holy Eucharist, Lessons & Carols with Children's Pageant
January 1 - Holy Name
11 AM The Holy Eucharist
CONTACT INFORMATION . . .
The Rev. Father Anthony Puca, Jr.
Rector
gecrector@gmail.com
201-664-0407
Kathryn MacCourt
Parish administrator, Organist and Choirmaster
kmaccourt@gmail.com
201-417-1653
The Reverend Deacon Len Roberts
leonard_roberts@rocketmail.com
973-901-8822
Grace Church Wardens
Akinola Okunlola - aokunlola@gmail.com, 201-926-3677
Larry Sunden - larry@sunden.com, 201-960-1433
PLEDGING . . . We have the capability of making a donation online thanks to a deal negotiated by the diocese with Vanco! Click on the link: WebPay Link.
Please be sure to visit and like our Facebook page, https://www.facebook.com/gracewestwood.org/
You can help Grace attract new members by simply sharing our posts on your own page. Please help us grow and share a post.
Pastoral Emergencies
Deacon Leonard Roberts - 973-901-8822
Larry Sunden, warden - 201-960-1433
Akin Okunlola, warden - 201-926-3677
FROM THE BISHOP . . . God's grace and generosity at Convention. Bishop Hughes describes how she experienced God's grace and generosity at the 150th Convention, remembering how we are united, not by political party or election outcomes, but because we follow Jesus Christ, and how she saw that manifest.
INFORMATION FROM THE DIOCESE OF NEWARK . . . To subscribe and receive The VOICE Online by email please go to https://dioceseofnewark.org/subscribe
At the very top of the page, you’ll see a box to type in your email address. Click on the “Sign me up” button and you will be taken to a page where you can subscribe to receive The VOICE Online as well as other e-newsletters.
RESOURCES FROM THE EPISCOPAL CHURCH…..For news and official statements from the national church, a few key websites are listed below.
The most up-to-date news in the Episcopal Church http://episcopaldigitalnetwork.com/ens/
News and official statements from the Episcopal Church concerning political and public policy issues http://advocacy.episcopalchurch.org
Grace Episcopal Church
9 Harrington Avenue, Five Corners
Westwood, NJ 07675
201 664-0407
www.gracewestwood.org
“Called to re-member and share God’s love and grace”
Contacts
The Rev. Father Anthony Puca, Jr., Rector 201-664-0407 (gecrector@gmail.com)
Mrs. Kathryn MacCourt, Parish Administrator, Organist & Choirmaster 201-417-1653 (kmaccourt@gmail.com)
Mr. Akinola Okunlola, Warden 201-926-3577 (aokunlola@gmail.com)
Mr. Larry Sunden, Warden 201-960-1433 (larry@sunden.com)